26/03/2018
Do we really buy fresh vegetables or they just look fresh?
Why retailers spray water on Vegetables and Fruits?
The last couple of days I am speaking with my all consumers and everyone complaining that you are not giving us fresh vegetables. Hence I decided to write this.
1. How can you measure the freshness of vegetables?
2. What criteria should you use for measuring the freshness of vegetables?
Now first understand how people measure the freshness?
People measure the freshness with Looks... Yes, its unfortunate but consumers measure freshness and quality of vegetables just by looks...
Yes, its same like you marrying a girl just because she is beautiful.
I did a lot of Google search and could not able to find much literature on this as everyone is talking about extending shelf life and post-harvesting management and everywhere keeping it fresh in terms of looks and sellability was the only criteria.
Still, I continued my research and could able to find few research papers on the same. Hence sharing the same results with you all...
As Spinach is considered as Nutrition Rich Leafy Vegetable I decided to study the same.
First I will share my personal experience.
I stay at Borivali and like others, my vegetables also delivered in evening. So the vegetables that reach our Dombivali facility at night gets delivered to my house next day by evening. THe look wise it is dull and maybe some people call it wilted. I never tried to see the vegetables and instructed my house help to use all vegetables that are received at my end regardless of how it looks. My family members never felt any difference in taste in spite of dull looks of vegetables. The difference we always realised is the positive side. If unfortunately, we bought any vegetable from local market we could make out that there no real taste of Vegetable.
Now let's Understand what research papers Claim!
Also, an attractive appearance does not mean that the spinach is still rich in nutrients. Spinach is prized because of its high nutrient content, particularly folate and carotenoids.
Folate is a vitamin B compound, responsible for producing and maintaining new cells in the body.
"Some people think that if the produce looks good, it has nutrients," LaBorde said. "So people will stick the spinach in some ice water to fluff it up to look nice."
The Penn State researcher noted this action is not effective because the nutrient-loss is irreversible.
Now after doing a lot of googling, I could able to understand what happens when someone sprays the water on vegetables or fruits.
Plant cells are surrounded by rigid cellulose walls, (unlike animal cells), but plant cells still take in water by osmosis when placed in pure water. However, plant cells do not burst because their cellulose cell walls limit how much water can move in. The cell walls exert pressure, called turgor pressure, as the cells take up water.
If we now understand this process scientifically then one must understand that such spraying of water can open the chances of contamination of microorganism. Also, it opens the chances of allowing the microorganism to regards the plant tissues.
Very limited research is being done on this process as no commercial houses will be interested in knowing the nutrient value of the fresh produce. The focus will be on the extending shelf life and boosting the profits.
The problem is so severe that people argue with me and try to prove me wrong by claiming that you claim that you source from farmers still you don't give us fresh vegetables whereas vegetables sourced from our local vendors are fresher. Just imagine the one who is giving you the truth you are rejecting him and one who is fooling you by giving misleading information you are appreciating him. This is why commercial houses smartly try to follow what consumer demands and they are right because why they should think about you against their profits also you are only demanding things which are not good for you so it's your karma, not their karma. Now if all of us come together and decide to change this then only we will able to build the ethical supply chain.
Saameer Ravindra Athavale
Fair Trade Activist
Farmer Freind
